how to start and build a successful ngo: from developing a

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2016 PADONOU Freddy Act for Development NGO How to Start and Build a Successful NGO: From Developing a Vision to Implementing Your Fundraising Strategy Le document aborde les principales étapes à suivre de la création jusqu’à la pérennisation d’une ONG. Il propose par ailleurs des astuces pour bien gérer une ONG. Il constitue de ce fait un guide pour les ONG dans le cadre des différentes activités qu’elles voudront mener. Téléchargé sur http://www.fundsforngos.org/ et mis en forme par Act for Development ONG (http://www.act-dev.org/)

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2016

PADONOU Freddy

Act for Development NGO

How to Start and Build a Successful NGO: From Developing a Vision to Implementing Your Fundraising Strategy

Le document aborde les principales étapes à suivre de la création jusqu’à la pérennisation d’une ONG. Il propose par ailleurs des astuces

pour bien gérer une ONG. Il constitue de ce fait un guide pour les ONG dans le cadre des différentes activités qu’elles voudront mener.

Téléchargé sur http://www.fundsforngos.org/ et mis en forme par Act for Development ONG (http://www.act-dev.org/)

How to Start and Build a Successful NGO: From Developing a Vision to Implementing Your Fundraising

Strategy

i

Table of content

Table of content ....................................................................................................................................... i

1. Understanding the basics of an NGO .................................................................................................. 1

1.1 What is a Non-Governmental Organization? ................................................................................ 1

1.2 Functions of an NGO ..................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Fundamental Principles/Values of an NGO ................................................................................... 5

2. Starting your NGO ............................................................................................................................... 8

2.1 Research ........................................................................................................................................ 9

2.2 Setting up an effective Board ...................................................................................................... 10

2.3 Establishing the vision and mission for your NGO ...................................................................... 13

2.4 Writing the article of Incorporation ............................................................................................ 15

2.5 Developing the By-laws ............................................................................................................... 15

2.6 Registering your organization ..................................................................................................... 16

3. Successful management of your NGO ............................................................................................... 17

3.1 Initial board meeting ................................................................................................................... 17

3.2 Policy Matters .............................................................................................................................. 18

3.3 Project management ................................................................................................................... 21

4. Fundraising Essentials ....................................................................................................................... 23

4.1 Types of Donors ........................................................................................................................... 23

4.2 Writing a fundraising strategy ..................................................................................................... 24

5. Sustaining the NGO ........................................................................................................................... 27

How to Start and Build a Successful NGO: From Developing a Vision to Implementing Your Fundraising

Strategy

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1. Understanding the basics of an NGO

Over the past few decades NGOs have gained significant popularity as the third pillar of

development and have played a key role in providing social, economic and environmental

services to the marginalized.

Growth of NGOs as providers of essential services and key players in policy reforms has been

a global phenomenon. NGOs have worked very effectively in areas where both government

and private players have failed miserably, this ability of NGOs to work in the most fragile and

backward places has been recognized and applauded by both national and international

entities.

NGOs play an important role in pushing several social agendas both at National and

International level. These organizations not only implement action oriented programs at

grass root levels, but also advocate socially relevant procedures and protocols globally. Over

the years, NGOs have established themselves as important institutions that tackle issues

related to the poorest sections of the society. NGOs undertake a wide array of activities,

including policy advocacy on international affairs, environment protection, delivering

healthcare, women empowerment, economic development, and many other developmental

projects.

Understanding the basics of NGO

Seeing the multiplicity of NGOs, it would not be incorrect to say that NGOs exist for nearly all

possible social causes. Last few decades have witnessed the growth and upsurge of NGOs

like never before, they have grown both in numbers and effectiveness. There are

approximately 1.5 million NGOs in the United States, while India has around 3 million NGOs.

Acknowledging the strong grass root linkages and field expertise of NGOs, several large

international organizations support and work with smaller NGOs. Most often NGOs use

participatory tools to engage local communities, that leads to effective project

implementation.

To help you in understanding the basic concepts of NGO, this chapter has been divided into

three sections. The first section briefly describes the meaning of NGOs; the second section

looks into the important functions of NGOs while the third section defines important

principles of an NGO.

1.1 What is a Non-Governmental Organization?

Historical records suggest that the term Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) came in

to use in 1945. The term was coined during one of the conferences of The United Nations, as

a measure to distinguish organizations from inter-governmental and member organizations.

Though the term NGO received recognition only after 1945, studies suggest that several

How to Start and Build a Successful NGO: From Developing a Vision to Implementing Your Fundraising

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organizations were actively engaged against slavery, racism and women suffrage during the

late eighteenth century.

NGO is a broad term encompassing organizations, that are not affiliated by the government

or a private company. Some countries use the term Non-Profit Organization, Voluntary

Organization, Charitable Organization to represent organizations that are independent of

government. Considering the wide diversity of NGOs both in terms of their function and

structure, it is very difficult to define the term ‘NGO’. However, some of the definitions that

are widely used have been suggested by World Bank and United Nations.

The World Bank defines NGOs as “private organizations that pursue activities to relieve

suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social

services, or undertake community development.”

What is a Non-Governmental Organization?

While, The United Nations defines NGOs as “a non-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group,

which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of

the public good.”

As per the definitions above, NGO is an organization that addresses social issues to promote

public welfare. Along with the features described in the above definitions, an organization

should have the following features for it to qualify as an NGO:

Non Profit: An NGO is not meant for making profit for personal gain. In case an NGO

conducts some revenue generating activity, the profit earned should not be

distributed amongst the board members, instead it should be used for carrying out

NGOs activities.

Social Values: An NGO should address a social cause and should work towards public

good. The activities undertaken by the NGO should improve the conditions of the

disadvantaged people.

Voluntary: These organizations are formed by free will of the founding member.

There are no laws that restrict or promote the formation of NGOs, it is a voluntary

decision of the founding members.

Legally registered: Should be legally registered as per country norms.

Independent: NGOs are independent of government or private interference. They

are controlled by the board of management and work independently for social

welfare.

Non- criminal: NGOs should not indulge in anti-social and criminal activities.

Considering the above mentioned features and definitions, an NGO can be described as a

legally constituted organization, created voluntarily by an individual or a group of people

that operates independently of government interference towards the welfare of people.

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NGOs are classified on numerous aspects, some classify them on the basis of their activity,

while others classify them on the basis of their orientation. World Bank classifies NGOs in

two types based on their activity:

Operational NGOs: These organizations are engaged in the implementation of

development related projects. There exists a wide range of activities that are

undertaken by operational NGOs. Based on the scope of the work, operational NGOs

are further classified into:

Community-based organizations (CBOs): Operations restricted to a small geographic

area.

National organizations: Operate in individual developing countries.

International organizations

Advocacy NGOs: These organizations promote and advocate for policy changes

related to a particular cause. These organizations carry out demonstrations, rallies

and events to generate awareness to influence policy change.

Another way of classifying NGOs is on the basis of their orientation, into the following types:

Charitable: These NGOs follow top-down approach for its projects. There is little

participation of the communities and activities are planned to help the weaker -

sections of the society, without seeking suggestion from beneficiaries.

Service: These NGOs provide services to the people, which can vary from health,

family planning to education services as per the NGO goal.

Participatory: Such NGOs follow a bottom- up approach where local people are

involved in the implementation of a project. The participation can be in form of

contributing cash, tools, land, materials, labor etc.

Empowering: These NGOS empower the marginalized communities by sensitizing

them and building their skills.

NGOs can also be classified based on the sector they work in, for example

Health NGOs: Their activities revolve around providing awareness, conducting health

camps, distribution of medicines and advocating health related issues.

Environmental NGOs: NGOs that work only for environmental related issues, which

range from awareness generation, plantation drives, climate change negotiations etc.

Educational NGOs: NGOs that conduct activities related to education, skill

development etc.

Most often smaller NGOs carry out several activities like advocacy, empowerment, service

delivery and work across several sectors, making it difficult to classify them into one of the

categories mentioned above.

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1.2 Functions of an NGO

NGOs worldwide perform a wide range of services aimed towards human wellbeing and

social welfare. These organizations relentlessly work towards development and bringing a

positive change in the society. NGOs may have different structures, activities and policies,

but all NGOs are committed towards their cause and perform their functions to achieve their

respective goals.

NGOs facilitate government policies to reach remote areas and enhance the overall

effectiveness of social welfare schemes. As discussed in the section above, NGOs perform a

variety of services for social wellbeing either through implementing development projects or

through policy advocacy.

Most NGOs contribute to the overall development of a community through their

engagement in social issues and therefore are recognized as the third pillar of development.

Most NGOs have the following inherent features associated with them:

Grass root linkages

Participatory approach

Community engagement

Community trust

Long-term commitment

Functions of a NGO

Most experts recognize the role of NGOs in all areas of development and have classified

their role into the following categories:

Developing Infrastructure: Some NGOs primarily help in development and operation

of infrastructure. These organizations purchase land and then use the land for

construction of schools, hospitals, wells, public toilets etc. which is used by

community at large.

Research and Development: These NGOS conduct research and help in enhancing

knowledge on current issues. They develop innovative solutions based on the

research to deal with social problems.

Advocacy: Several NGOs attempt to influence policy development in favor of poor

and marginalized communities. These NGOs are most likely to conduct rallies, stage

demonstrations, participate in policy formulation etc.

Dissemination of Information: In areas where government is unable to reach out to

people, NGOs help in disseminating information about government schemes, policies

and programs. They help in generating awareness about relevant government

projects.

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Training and Capacity Building: NGOs provide training and conduct capacity building

courses to empower marginalized communities.

Facilitate Dialogue: NGOs can facilitate both upward communication from people to

government and downward communication from the government to the people. This

two-way flow of information helps in designing better projects and effective policies.

1.3 Fundamental Principles/Values of an NGO

Successful people and organizations follow certain set of rules that helps them grow and sets

them apart. These rules are the fundamental principles that largely influence the working

style of people and their organizations. A principle can be defined as a rule that helps people

in understanding the context around us and then accordingly suggests the best way to

operate in the given condition. Along with providing guidance in our day to day lives,

principles also help in successfully completing the given assignments.

For an NGO to be successful, there are certain fundamental principles that should be

incorporate in its day to day working.

Transparency and Accountability: All NGOs should be transparent and accountable

in their day to day activity. This means that NGOs should be open and honest about

their activities, funding and internal operations. Most NGOs follow a protocol that

enhances their credibility by making the more accountable and transparent.

Transparency: Your NGO should be open about the activities it undertakes, the

funding it receives and the people it helps. Information related to NGO working

should be easily accessible and should be available to relevant stakeholders.

Transparency empowers NGOs to approach donors, develop collaborations and

improve performance.

Accountability: Accountability refers to the obligation of an individual or organization

to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results

in a transparent manner. Accountability is a very large term and encompasses several

issues of an NGO; some of these may include organizational management structure,

financial procedures, human resource policies etc. Accountability is a fundamental

principle for any organization, you must explain to the stakeholders how you have

used the resources and what are the impacts your organization has yielded. Experts

suggest the following four aspects of accountability for an NGO.

Upward Accountability: This refers to the responsibility of an NGO towards being

accountable to funders, donors and government institutions. As an organization you

are answerable to donors and funders about how you will be utilizing their money.

Horizontal Accountability: This refers to being responsible with project partners,

peers and related organizations. This also includes enhancing partnerships and

collaborations with other organizations and stakeholders.

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Downward Accountability: This means that as an organization you are responsible

towards your beneficiaries and the target audience.

Internal Accountability: One of the most important aspects of accountability is to be

answerable to your own employees and your organizations mission. It means that

you have ethical standards and governance structures and justify your organizations

core value.

Values of a NGO

Advantages of being Transparent and Accountable

Improved rapport with donors and funders: donors and funders are more accessible

to organizations that are transparent.

Trust amongst communities: Local communities tend to get involved with NGOs that

provide and share information with the beneficiaries.

Facilitates partnerships and collaborations: Being transparent helps you in

developing partnerships with other organizations and agencies.

Greater employability: Your staff will continue to work with you as they would feel

secure to work for an organization that is credible.

Improved performance: Tools to enhance accountability and transparency, help you

to keep check on your activities thereby improving your performance.

Ways to ensure accountability and transparency in your NGO:

Registration: Make sure your organization has a legal status and is registered under a

relevant legal framework. Registering your NGO will not help you in enhancing your

accountability but would also enable you to interact with government agencies and

diverse donors.

Accreditations and certifications: This refers to an external agency certifying that

your organization complies with a set of norms and policies. Accreditation ensures

that your organization has been evaluated by a third party and fulfills the nationally

recommended standards and policies.

Annual Reports and financial reports: Publishing your annual reports regularly is a

great way to ensure that you are fulfilling the required activities responsibly. The

annual report provides the readers with details about all the activities that your

organization undertook a particular year. Another important tool to enhance

accountability is to regularly update and compile your financial reports. This report

clearly indicates your income and expenditure on a monthly, quarterly and annual

basis.

Third Party Audits and Evaluation: Many organizations rely on evaluation and

external audits as an accounting tool. The external audits help you to analyze and see

if you are complying with the industry standards and norms.

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Develop your own set of self-regulation procedures: This is considered to be one of

the most effective ways to enhance accountability. Develop your own policies of

keeping records, formats for reports, trip and field reports, internal minutes.

Conduct due diligence before partnering with a new organization: Conduct in-depth

research of a new partner firm before entering in a partnership. This will help you in

selecting reliable partners who have a clean background and have not been involved

in fraud or an anti-social activity.

Appoint a rating agency or watchdog firm: Several organizations set up their own

standards and rating systems to measure the performance of other organizations.

The rating system can be applied to various activities and functions of the NGO.

Besides Transparency and Accountability, the Toronto declaration on NGO values suggests

ten other core values to be adopted by NGOs. These core values are:

1- Service beyond self: The very purpose of NGOs is to serve others. Integrating this

value in the overall working of the NGO not only makes them socially acceptable, it

also makes them more responsive to take up societal issues. It is important for NGOs

to responsibly take up societal issues and serve the community.

2- Respect for human rights: An NGO respects human rights and does not violate them

in any form. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights endows all human with

certain fundamental rights (which includes freedom, equality, freedom of thought,

practice a certain religion, family integrity etc.) An NGO should recognize these rights

and under no circumstance question or violate these rights.

3- Maintain a vision: All NGOs irrespective of their size or area of work, should maintain

a vision for their existence. This simple means that NGOs should have the potential to

think beyond the reality and envision an ideal society. All the work that is carried out

under the NGO should be target to achieve the vision.

4- Responsibility: NGOs are entrusted with a responsibility towards the public and the

society. As an NGO you have to take ownership of all activities undertaken by you.

5- Cooperation beyond borders: Most NGOs work to address existing social ills

prevalent in the society. As an NGO you should collaborate and cooperate with other

NGOs to foster positive change. An NGO should work beyond borders to achieve its

organizational goals in particular and societal vision in general.

6- Public mindedness: Make sure that the funding you receive is strictly used for society

and for the public. An NGO should be responsible and caring attitude toward the

environment in all of its activities.

7- Truthfulness: An NGO should be truthful in its dealings with its donors, project

beneficiaries, staff, members, partner organizations, government, and the general

public. An NGO under no circumstance should be involved in money laundering,

bribery, corruption, financial improprieties or illegalities.

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8- Nonprofit Integrity: The organization should operate as a not-for-profit organization.

In case of any surplus generated through its operations, it should be utilized solely to

help the organization fulfill its mission and objectives.

9- Comprehensive viewpoint: An NGO should follow a comprehensive approach

towards problem solving.

10- Voluntarism: NGOs are formed by private initiative, resulting from the voluntary

actions of individuals who have chosen to pursue a shared interest of concern.

It is important for you to understand the basic concept of NGOs and their working so that

you can establish an NGO. Make sure to integrate some of these values in your NGO

procedures, to enhance overall effectiveness and success of the organization.

2. Starting your NGO

Starting an NGO is a time consuming process and requires a great deal of research,

discussions, paper work and expert advice. So before investing your time and energy into it,

make sure that this is what you really want to do. Devote time in meeting people who are

engaged in NGO work and seek their help to understand all aspects of NGO management

from them.

Starting an NGO requires dedication and devotion towards the cause, so unless you are

prepared to give in your best, do not start an NGO.

Answer the following questions before put your efforts in starting an NGO:

Why do you want to start your own NGO?

What activities will you undertake in your NGO?

Are there other NGOs doing similar activities in your area?

Are you willing to devote all your time and efforts to start the NGO?

Who are the people will help you in the process?

Starting your NGO

Good to know that you are convinced about starting an NGO, and are certain that it would

solve a social problem prevalent in your locality. Your enthusiasm and passion for social

wellbeing is indeed commendable!

Your passion will certainly be the driving force to help you in finding the right solutions, but

the success of the venture will only come through proper planning and guidance from

experts. The complications engaged in the process can be reduced considerably if you plan

out the entire process with utmost care. Several NGOs get registered every year, however

only a handful of them create visible impact, indicating that planning of remaining NGOs is

flawed in way or the other.

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To ensure that your dream NGO does not fail in achieving the desired impact, this chapter

provides easy steps that can be followed while starting your NGO.

2.1 Research

Research is an essential ingredient for the success of any project, be it taking admission into

college or preparing for a job interview, you cannot get away with research. The same true

holds while establishing an NGO. Research may sound a little boring to you, but successful

NGOs are backed by sufficient research data.

Following are a few areas that should be thoroughly researched while you plan to start your

NGO.

The Problem: Understand the causes and the factors that are responsible for the

problem. It is necessary for you to understand various aspects of the problem, before

you find a practical solution for it. You can collect information about the problem

either through secondary research (published literature, government reports, book

etc.) or through primary research (interviews and survey of the target area,

discussions with government officials etc.)

Practicality of the intervention: You might have several ideas to tackle the problem

you have identified. But will these be effective? Do not just replicate an intervention

in your project area, because it had worked elsewhere. You have to consider the

socio-economic, ecological and cultural setup of the area before you finalize an

intervention. This would require you to study about various case studies and projects

that have tackled a similar situation successfully.

Other Organizations: Search for organizations (NGOs, Government agencies,

Research institutions etc.) those are actively working in the location that you plan to

work. Get an understanding of the causes that they are working for and how your

organization could complement their work. Depending on the interactions with these

organizations you can modify your solutions, so that your organization does not

duplicate their activities. This exercise will greatly help in identifying gaps in current

projects, which could be addressed though your organization.

Target Beneficiaries: It is very important to understand the communities that you

plan to work for. Do not start your NGO based on assumptions, instead devote time

to understand the community, their needs and their priorities.

Research

Once you are through with research and have clarity on the subject, you should proceed to

the next step, which is basically to find people to help you in setting up a formal

organization.

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2.2 Setting up an effective Board

For the smooth functioning of the organization, it is important for you to establish an Initial

Board of Directors. The Board members will constitute of individuals with a specific skill set

(legal, financial, sectorial etc.) who will be helping in laying down the foundation of the NGO.

The board is essential for developing good governance structure in the organization.

Before discussing about the role of board members in NGOs, let us first understand the

meaning of governance?

Governance refers to the processes relating to governing an organization through a set of

prescribed laws and norms. Effective governance structures are important to achieve the

organizations mission and objectives.

Most NGOs exercise effective governance, through an internal system of rules and

regulations that describe the roles and responsibilities of the Board members. The board

members of the NGO are responsible for establishing the guidelines for the working of the

organization. NGOs should develop a governance plan that reflects the mission, vision and its

organization structure. The governance plan should ideally have rules relating to:

Process of appointing board members.

Structure of governing Body.

Responsibility of the Board members.

Roles and duties of project managers.

Policies related to communication, HR, administration.

Process of conducting meetings and events.

Complying with legal procedures.

Setting up an effective board

Some of the advantages of good governance structures in an NGO include:

Enhancing employees trust in the organization: Employees and staff are more likely

to trust the organization if the organization has proper governance structures.

Supports the organizations to achieve its mission and vision: The governing body

ensures that all activities are in accordance with the organizations vision.

Enhances greater confidence amongst the stakeholders about the management and

operations being carried out in the organization.

Provides stability to the organization by making it accountable and transparent.

Role of a Board for a new NGO

An NGO board comprises of individuals who are appointed to provide oversight to the

organization. As you proceed towards establishing the NGO, you will require advice from

people who are experts in their respective field of work. To start with you can establish an

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initial board of comprising of 4- 5 individuals who are passionate about your cause and are

willing to support your organization.

The role of the initial board members will be to:

Establish the organizations value, mission and vision statement.

Constitute the bye-laws, article of incorporation and other procedures.

Register the organization

Develop projects, proposals and concept notes for initial donor engagement.

Conduct initial meetings with donors and government agencies.

Creating management and administration structure by developing necessary rules

and regulations.

Hiring office staff

Initial Board of directors governs the organization along with carrying out managerial and

project related functions. Once the NGO receives its first funding, the role of these board

members will be restricted to governance of the organization.

With the growing need to enhance good governance structures, transparency and

accountancy in NGOs, the role of Board members has significantly grown in the last few

years. There are several functions that the Board performs for the successful management

and governance of the NGO. Typically, in a well-established organization, the board is

responsible for the following:

Compliance of the organization to its Mission and Vision: A board of directors not

only establishes the values, vision and mission of the organization, but also ensures

that it lives up to these. The Board evaluates the various activities to see if they are in

line with organizations vision and mission.

Establishing Fundraising Goals: Board members along with the executive director of

the NGO establish the fundraising goals for the NGO. They may also help the NGO in

establishing contacts with donor agencies and corporate houses.

Assessment of NGO activities: Board members regularly evaluate and assess the

working of the NGO, through reports and discussions. Based on the assessment, the

board members suggest revision, modification and restructuring of current projects

and programs.

Establishing policies: Board members draft policies and protocols for smooth

functioning of the organization. These policies may be related to human resource

management, communication, fundraising, administration and procurement etc.

Hiring the executive director: The responsibility of hiring the executive officer lies

completely in the hands of the board members. The board members should develop

the ToRs for the position of the executive director and then accordingly identify the

right candidate for the job.

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Financial health of the organization: The board is responsible for ensuring that the

NGO utilizes the funds judiciously and remains financially secure. Board members

develop a comprehensive financial policy to achieve accountability and transparency.

Annual budget and annual work-plan: Board members develop and approve budget

on an annual basis. Based on the approved budget, a work-plan is drafted to carry

out various activities as per the budget.

NGO representation: Board members are the face of the NGO. They represent and

promote the organization in various events and functions.

Identifying and appointing board members

Board members play a crucial role in the functioning of an NGO, and therefore, one should

be careful while appointing them. It is a good practice to develop a systematic process for

their appointment and selection.

The board recruitment plan should clearly indicate the following:

Number of board members

Criteria for selection of Board members

Key Qualities

Tenure of a board member

Terms of Reference for the job.

You can develop the recruitment plan to suit your organizations objectives. For instance, if

your NGO works for Health care services, you will surely need a health practitioner as a

board member.

You should look for the following qualities in a candidate while identifying a member for

your board:

Passionate about the causes that your organization works for.

Past experience in NGOs and social work

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to lead a team

Expertise in a particular field (finance, legal, sector expert)

Strategic thinker

Once your board is in place you should organize a meeting to discuss about the key

objectives of your organization. During the first meeting you can share the research data

with the board and discuss about the issues that your organization would take up. These

people will help you in establishing your NGO, so make sure that all of you are at the same

page and agree on important at aspects of NGO management and governance.

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2.3 Establishing the vision and mission for your NGO

Once your initial board members are finalized and you have discussed with them your

preliminary ideas about the organizations, it is time to establish the NGO’s values, vision and

mission statements. These statements are crucial for the success of your organization, as

they explain to your stakeholders the organizations purpose in a concise manner.

Vision statement: Vision statement describes the goal that an organization aspires to

accomplish in the long run. In other words, the vision statement is the summary of

changes/impact you would bring into the lives of the community you work for. The vision

statement should be expressive and well drafted so that it appeals to people and at the

same time also gives direction to the NGO. While drafting the vision statement keep the

following points in mind:

Use simple language that can be understood by people of all backgrounds.

Should be appealing and inspiring to engage people.

Should have a broad context.

Should be written in present tense.

Should be easy to remember.

The best way to draft a vision statement is to get the perspective of the community about

their problems and the changes they would like to see. Once you know how the community

feels about a particular problem, it will be easier for you to articulate the vision statement.

Some examples of vision statements of International organizations may also help you in

drafting the Vision statement.

IUCN: Our vision is a just world that values and conserves nature

WWF: WWF’s vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with

nature.

CRY: A happy, healthy and creative child whose rights are protected and honored in

a society that is built on respect for dignity, justice and equity for all.

CARE: We seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has

been overcome and people live in dignity and security.

Green Peace: An earth that is ecologically healthy and able to nurture life in all its

diversity.

Remember that establishing an articulate vision requires time and consultation. You will

have to write and re-write the statement several times, before it clearly describes the

purpose of your organizations.

NGOs vision

Mission statement: Now that you have a vision for your organization, you will need a

plan to achieve it. This is where Mission statements come into play; mission

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statement describes the process of how the organization will lead to its vision. The

mission statement describes the purpose of your organization (i.e why the

organization exists) and also how the organization addresses the issues. Make sure

that the mission statement has the following:

Simple and concise: Just like the vision statement, use simple language and keep it

concise.

Defines the problem: The mission statement should state the problem it would

solve.

Solution: Describes how you intend to solve a problem

Suggests the outcome: the long term changes that the organization would bring

Comprehensive: inclusive of all stakeholders.

Some examples of the mission statement of some international NGOs to help you in writing

mission statement for your NGO.

IUCN: “Influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve

the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources

is equitable and ecologically sustainable.”

WWF: WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural

environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature,

by: conserving the world’s biological diversity. ensuring that the use of renewable

natural resources is sustainable.

Green peace: “Greenpeace is the leading independent campaigning organization

that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global

environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and

peaceful future.”

Care: CARE’s mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities

in the world. Drawing strength from our global diversity, resources and experience,

we promote innovative solutions and are advocates for global responsibility. We

promote lasting change by:

- Strengthening capacity for self-help

- Providing economic opportunity

- Delivering relief in emergencies

- Influencing policy decisions at all levels

- Addressing discrimination in all its forms.

Developing an effective mission statement also requires lot of consultation and discussion.

Once you have both the vision and mission statement ready, make sure you discuss it with

the board members before finalizing it. Communicate about your vision and mission

statements, so that people understand your organization in a better way.

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2.4 Writing the article of Incorporation

Article of Incorporation provide legal description to your NGO by establishing the existence

of the organization as per government rules. The articles of incorporation define the purpose

of your organization, along with describing the operational processes and membership

details. The number of articles required will largely depend on the country laws. While

drafting the article of incorporation, check with the government authorities about the

various forms that you require to fill. Depending on the complexity of the content you can

either fill in the form or take legal advice from a legal expert.

What to include in the Articles of Incorporation? Most often, NGOs are required to provide

the following information, while filling in the form:

Article I: Name of the organization. Be sure that you have discussed about the name

and finalized on a few names for your organization.

Article II: Organization Purpose: Describe the purpose of your organization and

reasons for establishing an NGO

Article III: Address of the Organization: Give complete contact details of the

organization correspondence address. Include the name of the person the

communication should be addressed to.

Article IV: Board Details: Mention the name and contact detail of the board

members.

Article VI: Membership Information: If you plan to have some sort of membership in

your NGO then give details of the membership process, the fees, member

qualification etc.

Article VII: Stock Information: Some forms require you to give details of the stocks

that your organization has.

Article VIII: Duration of existence: You need to mention the duration of existence of

the NGO. Most often NGOs are everlasting or perpetual.

Writing the article of Incorporation

Writing and filing the articles of incorporation is crucial in determining the success of your

organization. Take time to consult with experts to understand the incorporation process,

before writing the article of incorporation. The articles of Incorporation are subjected to

Country specific norms, therefore read the guidelines specific to your country.

Once you the have form filled, discuss it with the board members to seek their approval.

2.5 Developing the By-laws

By-law is a rule established by an organization to regulate its activities and manage internal

affairs. Well defined and clear set of by-laws provide a clear structure to the NGOs and

facilitates in smooth functioning. Along with providing consistency in working, by-laws also

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help in developing networks with local organizations and government entities. It is important

for your organization to have a set of by-laws as they will guide you in operating and

managing all your activities. Just like Article of Incorporation, different countries will have

their own provisions for bye-laws, and an NGO should refer to them before drafting the by-

laws. Most often NGOs should have the following information in the by-laws:

Introduction: This section provides a summary of the by-laws.

Name, Logo, Address: Mention the organizations name, acronym and a logo (if

available). Give details of the location and address office.

NGO Purpose/ Mission/Vision: Give information related to the NGO mission and

vision. You should mention about the activities that the organization will undertake

to achieve its objectives.

Membership Information: If you plan to have some sort of membership in your NGO

then give details of the membership process, the fees, member qualification etc. Also

mention the roles and responsibilities of the members.

Governance Structure: Describe the roles and responsibilities of the board,

composition, qualification of board members the frequency of meetings, process of

election of board members.

Staff management: Layout details of the staff members, their roles and duties,

procedure of hiring.

Auditing: state about the process of conducting audits of finances, projects and other

resources.

Legal Issues: give details about the legal procedure in place, law under which the

NGO is formed, resolution of legal matters.

Amendment in By-laws: process related to the bringing modifications and

amendments in the by-laws.

By law

While writing the by-laws for your organization, it is a good practice to refer to by-laws of

similar organizations, consult with board members and review the articles regularly. Once

the by-laws are written, get them approved by the board members. Be sure that a copy of

the bylaws is handy any is put into use. Using the by-laws in everyday activities will lead to

smooth functioning of the organization by reducing confusion and chaos.

2.6 Registering your organization

Once you have written the by-laws and the articles of incorporation, you can register the

organization as per the country norms.

Refer to the country specific guidelines to legally register your organization as per the rules

of the country you wish to operate. Registering the organization requires you to submit

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several documents to the registering authority. You will be required to fill a form and submit

the following documents:

By-laws

Article of incorporation

List of Board members

Mission and vision statement

Registering-an-NGO

Registering the organization is often a time consuming process, but there are several

advantages once you get registered.

Enhances organizations credibility

Hiring of staff becomes easier

You can seek financial assistance from government agencies and international

donors

You can claim tax benefits

3. Successful management of your NGO

Congratulations! You just got your dream NGO registered.

You might be really stressed out and tired during the entire process of getting the

organization registered, but now is not the time to rest. Getting the organization registered

is one thing and successfully managing it, is a different ball game altogether.

Management of NGO

Registering an NGO is quite similar to purchasing a piece of agricultural land. Unless and until

you plough the field, sow the seeds, timely water the crops, add the right amount of

fertilizers, pesticide etc., your field will remain barren. In the same way, you need to do a

whole lot of things before your NGO can create a positive impact.

This chapter explores some of the most important issues that should be considered to

successfully managing your NGO.

3.1 Initial board meeting

Once the NGO comes into existence, you should hold the first meeting with the board

members. It is during this meeting that the board members formally adopt the bylaws and

also discuss about important issues related to the NGO functioning.

Initial board meeting

Some of the issues that you can discuss during this meeting are:

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Setting up Office

Office Supplies

Hiring of staff

Project Development

Communication Strategy

Policy Development

3.2 Policy Matters

Policies are one of the most important documents that will guide the NGO staff in carrying

out routine office work. Creation of policies is definitely a time consuming process, but well

written and comprehensive policy documents yields several benefits.

Let us first understand the meaning and the purpose of a Policy:

A policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational

outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol.

Policies are generally adopted by the Board of or senior governance body within an

organization whereas procedures or protocols would be developed and adopted by senior

executive officers. Policies can assist in both subjective and objective decision making.

Policies are required to bring operational structure in an organization to ensure effective

delivery and working within the organization. Some of the ways in which policies help

organizations are as follows:

Internal control: policies help you to keep internal checks within the organization.

Thorough the enforcement of the policy you can maintain a standard protocol for

almost all aspects of operations in the organization.

Effective office management: policies help in managing the office effectively. Be it

maintenance of the organization’s books or issuance invoice, payments, banking

transactions all of it can be done through proper policy enforcement.

Receptive staff: Policies allows the NGO staff to clearly understand individual & team

responsibilities. This facilitates smooth functioning thereby saving time and

resources.

Improves transparency and accountability.

Enhances trust amongst stakeholders.

Policies are drafted by board members and once approved by the senior executives they

come into force. Most policy documents have a standard format and contain the following

components:

Statement of purpose: A brief statement outlining the purpose of the policy.

Scope statement: This section describes the scope of the policy, i.e the people and

resources that lie within the ambit of the policy.

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Date of commencement: Clearly mention the date indicating when the policy comes

into force.

Responsibilities: this section clearly rolls out roles and responsibilities of staff to

carry out policy statements. Each policy brings with a structure that ensures that the

policy is implemented effectively.

Policy statements: this forms the most important section of the policy indicating the specific

regulations, requirements, or modifications to organizational behavior that the policy is

creating.

There are a whole lot of policies that can be developed by an NGO, however, the following

three policies should be developed in the beginning itself.

Policy Matters

Finance and Accounting Policy: This document is not just necessary for you to

manage your finances and accounts, but this would also help you in complying with

legal protocols.

Purpose: The NGO Financial and Accounting policy describes the procedures and

systems that the NGOs adopts for managing its finances. The policy will cover the

flow of financial data within the organization that would ensure that the health of

your NGO in terms of finances remains good. Having a sound financial policy in place

will certainly enable you in keeping track of the NGOs expenditure, basis which you

can plan your fundraising strategy

Make sure that the financial policy is a comprehensive document and covers the following

topics:

Accounting systems

Cash Handling

Banking Transactions

Salaries and Advances

Payments

Financial Reporting procedure and format

Human Resource Policy: The Human Resource policy is an important document that

will provide the framework by which you manage the employees in the organization.

Once your NGO successfully raises funds, you will be hiring staff, this HR policy will

then come into play. This policy will clearly spell out the process of hiring, the

expectations from employee, leaves, salaries etc.

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Purpose: The HR Policy describes the processes, standards and obligations of NGO

employees subject to their performing of the duties and responsibilities in their

respective job descriptions. The policy will guide you right from the time of hiring to

termination of employees. Make sure that the HR Policy is shared with all employees,

so that they are aware of the various clauses and adhere to it.

While developing the HR policy for your NGO, you should cover the following point:

Recruitment process

Starting on the job

Payment policies and procedures

Staff development policies

Leave policy

Disciplinary procedures

Temporary appointments

Employee welfare

General policy guidelines

Communication policy: Communications play an important role towards successfully

conveying about your organizations mission and goals. The communication policy

helps in laying down a framework for all communications (external and internal)

within all fields of operation.

Purpose: A communication policy describes the tools and processes to be used for

effective communication to enhance transparency, relevance and coordination. The

policy lays down the guidelines and gives details about the communication protocol,

roles of staff members in the communication process, target groups and channels.

While developing the communication policy you can include the following:

Communication tools (Telephone, Fax, Emails )

Visual Identity protocol (Use of Logo, Letter head)

Communication protocol (Font, Format, language)

Website design and maintenance

Social Media

Target Audience (Communities, Donors, Government)

Media related communication

Access of staff to the use of phone, mobile, internet etc.

The number of policies that you may want, will largely depend on the decision of the board

members, location of work, type of activities, scope and coverage etc. Many organizations

also develop policies related to:

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Procurement of products

Travel and reimbursement

Computer use

Safety and security

Grievance Redressal

Fixed assets

Remember, there is no rush for developing so many policies right at the beginning; you can

always draft a policy as your organization grows.

SWOT: Another tool that can help you in managing the organization is through a SWOT

Analysis. Conducting a SWOT analysis is a very effective tool to assess, analyze the current

health of your organization and manage the organization successfully. SWOT stands for

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. SWOT helps an organization to analyze

both internal (strengths and weaknesses) as well as external factors (opportunities and

threats) which are likely to impact the working of the organization. By conducting a SWOT

you can manage the projects as well the organization in a much better way.

Through the SWOT you will be able to conduct a self-analysis of the processes, policies and

governance structure of the organization, operations and project issues. Many organizations

conduct such analysis only during crisis, however carrying it out on a regular basis (annually)

can help the organization in better managing their internal systems and externalities.

During the SWOT the following are analyzed:

Strengths: characteristics that give you an advantage over others.

Weaknesses: Characteristics that place you at a disadvantage relative to others.

Opportunities: External elements that the project be an advantage to expand your

work.

Threats: External elements in the environment that could act as a risk for you.

3.3 Project management

Successful NGOs provide high quality service to the beneficiaries and ensure that their

projects make a difference in the lives of the target community. With the growing

competition amongst NGOs it is essential that you develop effective project management

strategies that could enhance your visibility both amongst the beneficiaries and also the

donors. This will require you to manage and operate all project activities professionally.

For most NGOs, project management relates to implementing the project activities as per

the agreed terms with the donors.

Project management refers to an array of activities related to project implementation,

managing the external risks, communication, resources and budget. Project managers often

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face complex situations during project implementation that may arise due to a number of

reasons (political, climatic, cultural etc.). It is therefore necessary to use a set of pre-defined

management strategies that could be used during project management.

Project Management

Following are a few advantages of using management strategies in project implementation:

Timely completion and delivery of project outputs

Effective implementation of project activities

Enhanced visibility

Reduces confusion

Timely modification of activities in case of negative externalities

There are several tools and techniques that can be used for effective project management.

Some of the commonly used tricks for project management include:

Staff and human resources: Hiring staff for project implementation will be the first

step towards project management. The Human Resource policy that you had

developed will now come into use. Decide on the roles and responsibilities of the

staff that will be recruited for the project. Once the staff is on board, explain them

about the project and their deliverables. Remember to regularly meet them and

guide them in project implementation.

Resource management: Make sure that the funds you have received are used as per

the agreement with the donors. You can hire a finance manager to manage the funds

effectively. If there are any changes in the budget, inform the donor and seek their

permission before making any changes in the budget. Make sure that the finance

manager creates a file to update all financial transactions. Along with financial

resources you will have to oversee the efficient utilization of other resources (tools,

equipment, machines, books, computers etc.).

Communication and Reporting: Communicate the project objectives with the target

beneficiaries and involve them in the process of project implementation. Make sure

that the project team meets the beneficiaries to take their feedback and suggestions.

Also keep the donors informed the project progress on a regular basis. Send the

reports as per the schedule and adhere to reporting deadlines.

Monitoring: As the project head and the founder, you will have to monitor all project

activities and ensure that the project is being implemented as per the agreement and

your expectations.

Success of the organization will largely depend on the effectiveness of the projects, so make

sure that all your projects are managed and implemented properly.

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4. Fundraising Essentials

Many experts consider fundraising to be the backbone of the nonprofit sector, as continuous

flow of funds ensures NGOs to implement projects effectively. Raising money is indeed a

challenge, but with some help and practice you can boost up your fundraising efforts.

Fundraising forms the most important activity of any NGO to sustain and continue their

efforts for social wellbeing and development.

Fundraising Essentials

This chapter discusses about the types of donors, types of funding, processes involved in

developing a fundraising strategy and engaging donors in your NGO.

4.1 Types of Donors

It is necessary for you to understand the types of donors and the types of funding

opportunities, before you start fundraising. There are several sources for you to avail

funding for your organization, and to make the most of this opportunity, you will have to

understand the various types of donors, their priorities and their core values. Most donors

can be classified in to the following categories:

Foundations: Foundations are non-governmental entities that are established to

provide grants to smaller organization, research institutions and NGOs. Most NGOs

rely heavily on foundations mainly because they provide grants for a long duration.

Different foundations have their own specific areas of funding and NGOs should

conduct proper research before approaching a foundation for funds.

Corporations: Corporations are business houses and private firms that provide

funding to NGOs. Corporate Social responsibility has opened up new gateways for

NGOs in developing solutions to various societal issues. Private sector, local

businesses and International Corporations have huge potential to financially support

the Not for Profit sector. Corporations generally support NGOs though donations, in-

kind support and employee matching donation programs.

Individuals: Individuals tend to support NGOs by giving donations or volunteering.

Individual donors believe in your organization and your mission and therefore

support the organization. Even though they may not donate a huge amount of

money to the cause, they tend to contribute money on a regular basis. Also they help

you in spreading the word about your cause.

International donors: These include bilateral and multilateral donor agencies which

majorly fund large international organizations. NGOs can also receive funding from

development assistance agencies of countries, UN agencies, and multilateral

development banks; worldwide sources also include international foundations,

multinational corporations, international religious organizations, and larger

international NGOs.

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4.2 Types of Donors of funding

Just like there are several source of funding, the type of funding received from these sources

also varies significantly.

Restricted fund: Restricted funds can be used only for a specific purpose, as per the

agreement with the donor. These funds are often received as grants from

foundations against the proposal submitted by the NGO. Most restricted funds

clearly state of how the grant money is to be utilized and are accompanied by a

formal agreement between the NGO and donor.

Example: Grants received from a foundation or a donor agency. To receive such

funding, NGOs write a detailed proposal which specifies the activities and a detailed

budget showing the costs to undertake the activities. The proposals are reviewed by

the funding agency and certain proposals get approved for funding. The approved

fund can be utilized only for the activities that are mentioned in the project proposal.

In case any changes are to be made in the budget, written approval is required from

the donor.

Unrestricted funds: Unrestricted funds give the NGO complete flexibility to use the

funds as per their requirement. There is no restriction in terms of how the funds

should be used, most often these types of funds are provided by individual donors

and during fundraising events. Unrestricted funds are generally used for expansion of

NGO activities and other miscellaneous purposes.

Example: Donations received by an NGO from individuals, families or corporations.

Unlike grants, donations are not received through a competitive grant proposal.

Donations can either be in the form of cash or in-kind gifts. Donations are typically

solicited through fundraising events, crowd funding etc.

Temporary Funding: This type of funding is available for a short period which may

arise due to the occurrence of an unexpected event. Temporary funding is generally

received by organizing a fundraising event, individual charity or member’s

contribution.

Example: Funding received during a disaster can be used while carrying out relief

work for the victims. Such funding is temporary and does not help in sustaining the

NGO in the long run.

4.3 Writing a fundraising strategy

A fundraising strategy helps you to identify financial needs of your organization and

accordingly outline the activities required to meet those needs. It typically helps you

to plan the fundraising process for a period of 3-5 years by setting necessary

deadlines and responsibilities.

The primary purpose of a fundraising strategy is to prioritize activities to ensure fund

flows through varied sources to help the organization in sustaining its activities. The

best way to start writing the fundraising strategy is to analyze the following:

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Current status of funding: You need to analyze the current financial health of the

organization, before seeking additional funding. You will have to closely monitor the

flow of funds to assess if they are being used effectively.

Proposed and planned activities for coming years: Gather information from project

staff about the status of projects and get an understanding of activities that are to be

taken up in the coming years.

What is the target of fund raising for a particular year? You need to fix upon a target

as the entire strategy will depend on the target you set. Work with your project

managers to work on the budget and financial resources that you require.

What are the areas/causes for which your organization needs fund in a particular

year? You have to identify the area which needs immediate funding. May be a

particular year you are focusing on health projects, and may be the next year you

need funds for setting up a school for dropouts. Your selection of donors will depend

on the cause you select, because not all donors will donate for all causes.

Staff responsibilities: You have to identify people who are good in relationship

building and networking. Even if you have a small team, identify the person who has

exceptionally good communication skills. Giving responsibility always yields better

results.

How many donors to contact? Depending upon the size of funding and the cause for

fundraising, you will have to focus on a certain number of donors. If you think you

can contact all donors at one time and engage them, let’s be honest it won’t be

possible. Based on the financial requirement and the cause, identify prospects from

your donor pool. Gather all relevant information about them so that you get an idea

of the number of donors you will need.

What activities will you undertake to raise funds? There are several activities that

can be undertaken for raising funds. You should look into all aspects of fundraising

and identify the ones that are most suitable for your organization.

Writing a fundraising strategy

Once you are clear with the funding goals and priorities you should start writing the strategy,

under the following heads:

Case of Support: In simplest terms a case for support is a narrative of your

organization that tells the prospective donors about your funding

requirements and the problems you would address on receiving the funds. In

other terms it is a document that provides donors with information about

your organization, future goals and aspirations, accomplishments, and why

should a donor invest in your program. Key features of a case for support:

Should be attractive

Should be donor centric

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Should clearly illustrate your funding requirements

Should showcase your accomplishments

Should convince the donors to engage with your organization

Mention clearly about the funds that you require sustaining your activities. Along with the

financial requirements you should also make note of other resources that may be required

by your organization.

Who are the prospects? According to the funding requirement and the case

of support, you will have to start looking for prospects from your donor

database. Start going through donor webpages, history of past donations,

donor priorities etc. to prepare a list of prospects.

Plan for approaching prospective donors: Once you have the list of

prospective donors, prepare a plan of approaching them. Each donor in your

prospective list will require special attention as they may have different

requirements and terms of providing funds. Make sure you read through their

guidelines and understand the process of funding before approaching them.

Also as there are various methods to approach a donor viz. Online, fundraising event,

telephonic, door-to door, sponsorship, applying for a grant etc. clearly mention in the plan of

how you will approach a particular donor. You can discuss with your board members for help

in introducing your organization to a few prospective donors.

Along with conventional sources of funding you can also explore the following options:

Crowd funding: Crowd funding is the practice of funding a project or venture by

raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, today often

performed via internet-mediated registries, but the concept can also be executed

through mail-order subscriptions, benefit events, and other methods.’ (Wikipedia).

Membership: You can start a membership process in your organization, wherein you

charge a certain fee from members. These fees can be used as an unrestricted fund

for various operational purposes.

Events: Organize special fundraising events like cycle rallies, marathon etc., to raise

funds.

Donation boxes: You can place donation boxes in malls, community halls etc. along

with a banner of your organization. People interested in your cause can donate

money though donation boxes.

Responsibility of staff: In the fundraising strategy clearly mention the roles and

responsibilities of your staff members who will support you in the process. For

example, people with really good inter-personal skills and communication skills

should be involved in directly contacting the donor, while a person with really good

research skills should be used for identifying the prospects and conducting research.

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Calendar of activities: Develop a calendar of events that clearly indicate the schedule of

major activities which may include; Timelines to contacting a particular donor, organizing a

fundraising event, initiating an online fundraising appeal etc.

Incorporating the above mentioned tips in your fundraising effort will surely boost up your

performance and will help you engage with many donors. Just remember that these tips can

help you in improving your performance and if you don’t get immediate results do not lose

hope but instead keep trying and integrate the above mentioned tips in your routine.

Organizations need to understand that raising funds is a time-taking and skillful job. Proper

planning and strategy can generate precious funds to implement and upscale their projects.

5. Sustaining the NGO

The one ingredient that is essential for your organization to create long lasting impact is

Sustainability. The term sustainability has gained significant popularity in policy-oriented

research, business development and social sector over the last few decades. Sustainability, a

word frequently used across several disciplines, has become part of our everyday lexis.

Origin of the word Sustain dates back several centuries, from two latin words sus which

means- up and tenere meaning to hold. The current use of the word implies something that

continues for a long time.

Some ways to ensure Institutional and Organizational Sustainability are:

Be flexible: Keep a flexible approach while looking for new opportunities you may

have to modify your priorities to adopt to changes. If your NGO has been

successfully implementing projects for several years, there are chances that the

purpose for which you started the NGO does not exist. In such cases you will have to

explore and look for options that could be integrated in your NGO activities.

Invest in partnerships and collaborations: To develop a sustainable organization you

should develop new partnerships. These partnerships will make you stable and will

also help you in taking your mission ahead. You need to understand the social change

is possible only when you scale up and replicate your projects. For scaling up you

projects, you will have to partner with other NGOs, research organizations and

government institutions.

Boost existing relations: Maintain a congenial relation with your existing donors: You

need to maintain a good rapport with your existing donors as well. Submit all the

reports, financial documents and updates with them in a timely manner. It is

important that you involve them in your organization and acknowledge them for

their support. Developing long term relation with the donors will certainly increase

the likelihood of repeat funding. While searching for new donors, do not forget the

people who have previously funded your organization. You need to maintain a good

rapport with your existing donors as well. Submit all the reports, financial documents

and updates with them in a timely manner. It is important that you involve them in

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your organization and acknowledge them for their support. Developing long term

relation with the donors will certainly increase the likelihood of repeat funding.

Enhance your visibility: The chance of your organization to sustain itself largely

depends on your visibility. In today’s time when everything is just a click away, it is

essential that your organization is on the internet. It is equally important to make

your presence felt in public domain.

Improving online presence: In today’s time when everything is just a click away, it is

essential that your organization is on the internet. There are several benefits that an

organization can have through presence on the web; along with enhancing your

organizations visibility it also makes you look more professional to donor agencies

and potential partners. Internet has enabled producers reach out to millions of

consumers and vice-versa. It has helped connect writers to millions of its readers. In

recent years the world of internet has come up with another new communication

and social channel. Social media is a catch-all term for sites that may provide radically

different social actions. Through the use of technology, you can connect to a large

audience spreading across the globe, within fraction of a second and spread your

message.

Diversify funding sources: The most important aspect of sustainability is to diversify

your donor base and to develop long term partnerships with donors to support you

in your endeavor. Do not just look at the traditional donor agencies but explore new

opportunities as well. There are several new donor mechanisms in place viz. virtual

funding platforms, crowd funding, CSR, individuals etc. Keep an eye on such funding

windows as there is a huge potential to get funds from them. This will surely help

you in engaging with multiple donors thereby enhancing your chances of funding.

Sustaining the NGO

The success of your NGO completely depends on how well you have planned the entire

process of NGO establishment. By devoting time on initial planning, you are more likely to

lay a strong foundation of your NGO. The primary purpose of the guide was to introduce you

to the various steps involved in establishing an NGO and help you in laying down the

foundation of your dream NGO. Hope the guide assisted you in the process.